Flance Early Learning Center

At Flance we believe that every child, regardless of income or zip code, deserves a quality start in life. This commitment to equity is a core value that drives our work in the classroom and the community. We are committed to making a better St. Louis by nurturing vulnerable children through their first five critical years - years that lay the groundwork for a successful future.  

Flance Early Learning Center is proud to celebrate 10 years of service for babies, children and families on St. Louis' north side.  Since its inception in 2014, Flance has served over 700 families with comprehensive care and education for children ages six weeks to six years. Located in one of the highest-need zip codes in Missouri (63106), 70% of our families live at or below federally defined poverty levels. Thanks to a group of visionaries, led by Dr. Jerome Flance and developer Richard Baron, programs are held in a state-of-the-art facility, intentionally designed for the needs of young children.  The campus features 13 spacious classrooms, ample indoor and outdoor play areas, spaces dedicated to play-based and art therapies, and a working community garden. Nutrition education and sustainability are core elements of the curriculum, and our youngsters are served homemade meals daily by our in-house chef. Our client base is intentionally diverse, mixing children of different racial, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Beyond education and nutrition it is a goal to support the physical, mental and emotional health of our students by providing additional wraparound services in collaboration with over 20 community partners that have specialty expertise.

Flance receives subsidies through Head Start, early Head Start and the Missouri Department of Social Services. These programs are essential, however they cover just 60% of the cost of the comprehensive, holistic mix of services provided. We must raise over $700,000 each year in order to provide working parents, loving families and deserving children with everything they need to achieve a healthy and successful start in life. 

Your gift, whatever the amount, helps Flance raise the bar - increased salaries for talented caregivers and educators who need economic stability to stay in the field; improved therapeutic services for children and parents who require extra help, parent engagement programs and many other services that support school success and promote family stability.  We invite you to join us!